New imaging detects more prostate tumors

You must enter the characters with black color that stand out from the other characters

Cary, N.C. — Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men and accounts for 22 percent of all male cancer deaths. Conventional screening methods miss many prostate tumors until they become advanced, but new imaging techniques are improving the odds of survival.

Mark Youngquist, 58, says his older brother's fight with prostate cancer changed both of their lives.

“It was from that experience that he encouraged me to be more proactive about getting my tests done,” he said.

Youngquist's past exams, including PSA blood tests, were always low, until about a year ago when his number doubled. The rate of increase alarmed him, so he went to Duke University Hospital for more tests, including a needle biopsy on the easier-to-access posterior end of the gland. It found no cancer.

“But some of the tumors that aren't found on the posterior part of the gland can be very aggressive,” said Dr. Rajan Gupta, a Duke radiologist.